A FORMER High Wycombe Mayor who worked closely with the police during his political career is predicting turnouts of as low as 18 per cent in tomorrow's crime commissioner elections.

Jim Tanner, who served on the Thames Valley Police Authority for five years in the 1980s, has dismissed the new role, saying most people do not care.

The police authorities have been scrapped to make way for the new chiefs, who will earn up to £100k per year. The Government believes it will make the police more accountable to the public.

But Mr Tanner said: “I don't like the idea at all I think it's too much responsibility to put on one person and I can't see why the Government didn't just leave it alone and keep the police authorities.

“Most of the public couldn't care less, they're not interested and I visualise a low turnout I'd say 18 per cent.”

A previous web poll by the BFP suggested just 22 per cent of readers intend to vote.

Mr Tanner, a former Labour councillor, was also Chairman of The High Wycombe Police Consultative Committee and served on the Crime Prevention Panel.

Steve Colgan, 51, from Hazlemere, used to work for a special crime solving unit at the Metropolitan Police.

He said: “I don't see how someone assigned to the whole Thames Valley area can possibly understand the issues that matter in Hazlemere or Cressex, for example.

“My second issue is that you're bringing politics into police, which is a horrible thing."

Lord Blair, former chief of the Metropolitan Police and ex-Assistant Chief Constable for Thames Valley, has been among the fiercest critics of the role.

The role of the commissioners will be to set priorities for policing in their areas.

Voting takes place tomorrow at polling stations around the county.

For a last minute check on the candidates, read written statements from the contenders here.

And watch the videos below to see each contender's five minute pitch to voters on why they should become the new police chief.

Comments (16)

For the first time in my life, I spoiled my postal ballot paper and wrote 'none of the above'.

This has been a waste of time, money and effort.

I wrote what I had to say on my blog on the BFP a long time ago when I saw the way that things were set up. It's nothing more than 'Jobs for the boys'.

For the first time in my life, I spoiled my postal ballot paper and wrote 'none of the above'.
This has been a waste of time, money and effort.
I wrote what I had to say on my blog on the BFP a long time ago when I saw the way that things were set up. It's nothing more than 'Jobs for the boys'.Darren Hayday

There are some big issues at stake here - balance between urban and rural, crime vs traffic, managing a tight budget, neighbourhood policing, professionalism vs political direction.
It would be a pity if torpor and apathy take over, neither of which is healthy.

There are some big issues at stake here - balance between urban and rural, crime vs traffic, managing a tight budget, neighbourhood policing, professionalism vs political direction.
It would be a pity if torpor and apathy take over, neither of which is healthy.Brian JM

Brian JM wrote:
There are some big issues at stake here - balance between urban and rural, crime vs traffic, managing a tight budget, neighbourhood policing, professionalism vs political direction.
It would be a pity if torpor and apathy take over, neither of which is healthy.

I'm sure some politician with no relevant policing background is just the person to sort these issues out.

Apparently one of them was a victim of crime once, and this is a good reason to elect them.

[quote][p][bold]Brian JM[/bold] wrote:
There are some big issues at stake here - balance between urban and rural, crime vs traffic, managing a tight budget, neighbourhood policing, professionalism vs political direction.
It would be a pity if torpor and apathy take over, neither of which is healthy.[/p][/quote]I'm sure some politician with no relevant policing background is just the person to sort these issues out.
Apparently one of them was a victim of crime once, and this is a good reason to elect them.Ivor'sbestfriend

Darren Hayday wrote:
For the first time in my life, I spoiled my postal ballot paper and wrote 'none of the above'. This has been a waste of time, money and effort. I wrote what I had to say on my blog on the BFP a long time ago when I saw the way that things were set up. It's nothing more than 'Jobs for the boys'.

Bloomin' heck! For the first time I actually have something in common with the self publicist, Mr Hayday!

We don't need yet another tier of political control. All this means is that the police budget will be controlled by a political entity. We know that most of the time people who hold such positions will do what they think is right "for the party" before what is right for the people.

Those who get elected for parties that are in opposition locally or nationally will be able to make decisions just to create problems or up their own profile.

I WILL be voting tomorrow, but I will be voting for every single candidate.

There will be a low turnout and it will be said that the people don't really care.

However, I believe that people DO CARE and SHOULD VOTE, spoiling their ballots to show their disaffection for the whole system. It would have been nice to have had the option "No Crime Commissioner".

By making "Spoilt Votes" the "winner" we can show that people DO CARE ... but not for this claptrap.

[quote][p][bold]Darren Hayday[/bold] wrote:
For the first time in my life, I spoiled my postal ballot paper and wrote 'none of the above'. This has been a waste of time, money and effort. I wrote what I had to say on my blog on the BFP a long time ago when I saw the way that things were set up. It's nothing more than 'Jobs for the boys'.[/p][/quote]Bloomin' heck! For the first time I actually have something in common with the self publicist, Mr Hayday!
We don't need yet another tier of political control. All this means is that the police budget will be controlled by a political entity. We know that most of the time people who hold such positions will do what they think is right "for the party" before what is right for the people.
Those who get elected for parties that are in opposition locally or nationally will be able to make decisions just to create problems or up their own profile.
I WILL be voting tomorrow, but I will be voting for every single candidate.
There will be a low turnout and it will be said that the people don't really care.
However, I believe that people DO CARE and SHOULD VOTE, spoiling their ballots to show their disaffection for the whole system. It would have been nice to have had the option "No Crime Commissioner".
By making "Spoilt Votes" the "winner" we can show that people DO CARE ... but not for this claptrap.geoffW

TVP covers far too great a geographical spread (Bucks, Berks, Oxon - and now partly merging with Hants) to be even remotely effective at a local level - no appointed PCC is going to change that.

Waste of time, waste of money - fiddling while Rome burns.

18% turnout - as high as that?!
TVP covers far too great a geographical spread (Bucks, Berks, Oxon - and now partly merging with Hants) to be even remotely effective at a local level - no appointed PCC is going to change that.
Waste of time, waste of money - fiddling while Rome burns.jdough

The official line is that the PCC will not have any say in the operational running of a police force, that will be left with the CC of TVP.

How an earth can that be the case when this PCC will have the power to hire/fire said Chief Constable and set budgets and policing priorities?

The Police Authorities have done a good job in the past, nobody has protested that they have not so why change it?

We are bringing politics into the police, of which there is already enough of it in there!

Leave the police to get on with the job, hold them accountable when they need to be but for gods sake lets hope this is scrapped in a few years when it becomes evident that it is not working.

I can see many Chief Constables taking early retirement in the next few years.

Utter rubbish.
The official line is that the PCC will not have any say in the operational running of a police force, that will be left with the CC of TVP.
How an earth can that be the case when this PCC will have the power to hire/fire said Chief Constable and set budgets and policing priorities?
The Police Authorities have done a good job in the past, nobody has protested that they have not so why change it?
We are bringing politics into the police, of which there is already enough of it in there!
Leave the police to get on with the job, hold them accountable when they need to be but for gods sake lets hope this is scrapped in a few years when it becomes evident that it is not working.
I can see many Chief Constables taking early retirement in the next few years.realist_highwycombe

Darren Hayday wrote:
For the first time in my life, I spoiled my postal ballot paper and wrote 'none of the above'.

This has been a waste of time, money and effort.

I wrote what I had to say on my blog on the BFP a long time ago when I saw the way that things were set up. It's nothing more than 'Jobs for the boys'.

And this is coming from a Tory boy. "Jobs for the boys". Would never happen in the Tory party would it?

[quote][p][bold]Darren Hayday[/bold] wrote:
For the first time in my life, I spoiled my postal ballot paper and wrote 'none of the above'.
This has been a waste of time, money and effort.
I wrote what I had to say on my blog on the BFP a long time ago when I saw the way that things were set up. It's nothing more than 'Jobs for the boys'.[/p][/quote]And this is coming from a Tory boy. "Jobs for the boys". Would never happen in the Tory party would it?sparky49

Darren Hayday wrote:
For the first time in my life, I spoiled my postal ballot paper and wrote 'none of the above'. This has been a waste of time, money and effort. I wrote what I had to say on my blog on the BFP a long time ago when I saw the way that things were set up. It's nothing more than 'Jobs for the boys'.

Bloomin' heck! For the first time I actually have something in common with the self publicist, Mr Hayday!

We don't need yet another tier of political control. All this means is that the police budget will be controlled by a political entity. We know that most of the time people who hold such positions will do what they think is right &quot;for the party" before what is right for the people.

Those who get elected for parties that are in opposition locally or nationally will be able to make decisions just to create problems or up their own profile.

I WILL be voting tomorrow, but I will be voting for every single candidate.

There will be a low turnout and it will be said that the people don't really care.

However, I believe that people DO CARE and SHOULD VOTE, spoiling their ballots to show their disaffection for the whole system. It would have been nice to have had the option "No Crime Commissioner".

By making "Spoilt Votes" the "winner" we can show that people DO CARE ... but not for this claptrap.

See I can be human after all! :oP

[quote][p][bold]geoffW[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Darren Hayday[/bold] wrote:
For the first time in my life, I spoiled my postal ballot paper and wrote 'none of the above'. This has been a waste of time, money and effort. I wrote what I had to say on my blog on the BFP a long time ago when I saw the way that things were set up. It's nothing more than 'Jobs for the boys'.[/p][/quote]Bloomin' heck! For the first time I actually have something in common with the self publicist, Mr Hayday!
We don't need yet another tier of political control. All this means is that the police budget will be controlled by a political entity. We know that most of the time people who hold such positions will do what they think is right "for the party" before what is right for the people.
Those who get elected for parties that are in opposition locally or nationally will be able to make decisions just to create problems or up their own profile.
I WILL be voting tomorrow, but I will be voting for every single candidate.
There will be a low turnout and it will be said that the people don't really care.
However, I believe that people DO CARE and SHOULD VOTE, spoiling their ballots to show their disaffection for the whole system. It would have been nice to have had the option "No Crime Commissioner".
By making "Spoilt Votes" the "winner" we can show that people DO CARE ... but not for this claptrap.[/p][/quote]See I can be human after all! :oPDarren Hayday

Darren Hayday wrote:
For the first time in my life, I spoiled my postal ballot paper and wrote 'none of the above'. This has been a waste of time, money and effort. I wrote what I had to say on my blog on the BFP a long time ago when I saw the way that things were set up. It's nothing more than 'Jobs for the boys'.

Bloomin' heck! For the first time I actually have something in common with the self publicist, Mr Hayday!

We don't need yet another tier of political control. All this means is that the police budget will be controlled by a political entity. We know that most of the time people who hold such positions will do what they think is right &quot;for the party" before what is right for the people.

Those who get elected for parties that are in opposition locally or nationally will be able to make decisions just to create problems or up their own profile.

I WILL be voting tomorrow, but I will be voting for every single candidate.

There will be a low turnout and it will be said that the people don't really care.

However, I believe that people DO CARE and SHOULD VOTE, spoiling their ballots to show their disaffection for the whole system. It would have been nice to have had the option "No Crime Commissioner".

By making "Spoilt Votes" the "winner" we can show that people DO CARE ... but not for this claptrap.

See I can be human after all! :oP

Steady on. I wouldn't go that far!

[quote][p][bold]Darren Hayday[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]geoffW[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Darren Hayday[/bold] wrote:
For the first time in my life, I spoiled my postal ballot paper and wrote 'none of the above'. This has been a waste of time, money and effort. I wrote what I had to say on my blog on the BFP a long time ago when I saw the way that things were set up. It's nothing more than 'Jobs for the boys'.[/p][/quote]Bloomin' heck! For the first time I actually have something in common with the self publicist, Mr Hayday!
We don't need yet another tier of political control. All this means is that the police budget will be controlled by a political entity. We know that most of the time people who hold such positions will do what they think is right "for the party" before what is right for the people.
Those who get elected for parties that are in opposition locally or nationally will be able to make decisions just to create problems or up their own profile.
I WILL be voting tomorrow, but I will be voting for every single candidate.
There will be a low turnout and it will be said that the people don't really care.
However, I believe that people DO CARE and SHOULD VOTE, spoiling their ballots to show their disaffection for the whole system. It would have been nice to have had the option "No Crime Commissioner".
By making "Spoilt Votes" the "winner" we can show that people DO CARE ... but not for this claptrap.[/p][/quote]See I can be human after all! :oP[/p][/quote]Steady on. I wouldn't go that far!geoffW

It is indeed sad to hear that a budding politician admits to spoiling the ballot paper deliberately. There are certainly one or two candidates who would do a good job although it is not clear that either of them would be elected.

It is indeed sad to hear that a budding politician admits to spoiling the ballot paper deliberately. There are certainly one or two candidates who would do a good job although it is not clear that either of them would be elected.Voyeur

Police Chief David Couper wrote:
Find out what should be expected of, and how you should evaluate, your chief of police. Follow my blog at http://improvingpoli

ce.wordpress.com

What has a website about an American chief of police got to do with English election for Crime commissioners?

Unless, ofcourse, it has something to do with getting hits and pushing his site up the rankings by dubious means.

Maybe the BFP could check out if the poster is, in reality, Chief Couper.

If it his him it just shows that he is either very unintelligent (contributing here) or very devious (trying to get hits on his website). I wouldn't vote for a man like that!!

[quote][p][bold]Police Chief David Couper[/bold] wrote:
Find out what should be expected of, and how you should evaluate, your chief of police. Follow my blog at http://improvingpoli
ce.wordpress.com[/p][/quote]What has a website about an American chief of police got to do with English election for Crime commissioners?
Unless, ofcourse, it has something to do with getting hits and pushing his site up the rankings by dubious means.
Maybe the BFP could check out if the poster is, in reality, Chief Couper.
If it his him it just shows that he is either very unintelligent (contributing here) or very devious (trying to get hits on his website). I wouldn't vote for a man like that!!geoffW

Brian JM wrote:
There are some big issues at stake here - balance between urban and rural, crime vs traffic, managing a tight budget, neighbourhood policing, professionalism vs political direction.
It would be a pity if torpor and apathy take over, neither of which is healthy.

I'm sure some politician with no relevant policing background is just the person to sort these issues out.

Apparently one of them was a victim of crime once, and this is a good reason to elect them.

This makes a lot of sense I'sbf (I never thought I would admire the cool rationality of a man who is openly well-disposed towards Wycombe's Blogger of Evil.)

[quote][p][bold]Ivor'sbestfriend[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Brian JM[/bold] wrote:
There are some big issues at stake here - balance between urban and rural, crime vs traffic, managing a tight budget, neighbourhood policing, professionalism vs political direction.
It would be a pity if torpor and apathy take over, neither of which is healthy.[/p][/quote]I'm sure some politician with no relevant policing background is just the person to sort these issues out.
Apparently one of them was a victim of crime once, and this is a good reason to elect them.[/p][/quote]This makes a lot of sense I'sbf (I never thought I would admire the cool rationality of a man who is openly well-disposed towards Wycombe's Blogger of Evil.)ImpeturbableLawrence